Brice pulled the receipts box from his closet during his prep. He skipped lunch, his stomach wasn't ready to digest food. Margaret tapped on his door. She mirrored the image of being beaten. Teaching in a school with a third of the students didn't want to be here wore a person down. He got up to speak to her, applying pressure to his stomach."Brice, I am afraid for you," Margaret pushed herself into his classroom. Her eyes were watery and voice cranky. "You can get kill in your own room.""We got security in the building." He knew it was the weakest thing to say after what happen to him. His headed pounded from his thoughts of Arcadio's gun being fire. The blast and Shawn's scream surrounded him. "Monique the girl I try to help," Margaret took one of the front desk and slumped in the chair. "I cared for my students a lot. I worked with her counselor." Her tears flooded her face as her body shook. The past to her was her constant present."Every sentence you used I but it's we." He gave her a soft head butt. Margaret collected herself with a breathing exercise."You stay here as long as you want," Brice said touching her shoulder."Don't go Brice.""I wasn't leaving. My chair is more comfortable than a desk.""Qadira spoke to me about Khalilah," Margaret said fixing her eyes on the trees outside his window. She smiled. "She's not interested in joining Khalilah, she just wants a way out her life with her mother and her father. Problems with her dad cheating and mother denial.""Can you help with that?""I believe I can.""Who you working with Margaret?""I-""No, Margaret get in contact with a social worker outside of school to help Qadira." Brice sat down in the desk beside her. He watched her until she lifted her face to give him eye contact."Out, Margaret," said Principal Jason. Margaret traveled around him putting up her arms in an I don't know jester. She closed the door behind her. The hustler without tie and belt. Not his day."Brice got smart and went for the money," he said."You're going to jail," Brice said."I still got my job and no cops came to question me," Jason plopped in Brice's chair then put his feet up on the desk. "You were after the money. Your kind play the good one card so you can take over."

​"That looks bad," Tammi said."Come in the hall," Brice said gathering her first aid box and pulling her in the hall. They observed Isaac turning the corner."I should make sure he leaves the building," Tammi said. Brice pulled her close to him and squeezed her arm as the kids whispered in his class."Go head, Mr. F., let Tammi patch you up," Dwayne yelled. "We'll behave."Brice stepped back in the room and shush him by putting his finger to his mouth. When he returned to the hallway, Tammi patted an alcohol pad on his lip. He gripped her hand. Tammi dropped it."I've got this from my medical kit, it's clean. Don't take out what you want to do on him on me. How this happen?""Mess with the wrong woman," Brice said. She rubbed his arm. He hiccupped and smiled."Qadira says Isaac gave you a beat down," Tammi said, cuddling up close."What so big about Isaac?" Brice asked. Margaret opened her classroom's door."Everything all right?" Margaret asked. Brice signaled a thump up. She backed in to her classroom."She's your woman?" Tammi chided."No," Brice said, wincing. "You were going to explain about Isaac."Tammi dragged her finger across Brice's stomach, he jumped at her touch. She continued to drag her finger down the hallway wall over advertising fliers for the Comets boys' basketball team matchup. She lowered her fingers when she reached the lockers."Go see your man in action," Tammi threw Brice a snarled. "Find out why women craved him. Hair Essex on Plymouth and Evergreen."Tammi looked fine walking away. Got to fix that later but after school meet up with Isaac again.

​"Good morning," Brice said locking the box in the closet."Why you're late, Mr. F?" Qadira asked."I had a long ass night," Brice said, taking an Algebra book off the window ceiling."You cuss Mr. F," Qadira said."That word is not a cuss word," Cecil said. "It means a donkey.""Not the way he saying it." Qadira opened her book."Both of you be quiet," Dwayne said, brushing his hair."Open your books," Brice said. "To page." A man rushed across the front of the classroom and slammed a fist into his gut. Then he punched him in the face twice."Get off him," Dwayne grabbed the guy's fist. His wiry arm flung Dwayne back. "What are you doing Isaac?" Qadira held Dwayne back.Isaac ripped Brice's shirt, peeling the picture off his chest. "Jason will come to retrieve his book and papers." Brice kicked the guy. Isaac tripped. His head hit the side of Brice's closet door. His forehead spilled with blood."Tell Jason, I'm coming for him," Brice said. Raising up from the floor, he rubbed the aching parts of his body. Isaac stone head had separated the door off its hinges, leaving him daze."Mr. F., " Dwayne said. "Are you okay?" He leaned closer into his face."Maybe you need to go home," Qadira said. "I'll get you a cup of water. Cecil is on the phone calling for help.""No," Brice said, focusing his eyes. "Tell Tammi to come and bring her first aid kit."Brice managed to write a lesson on the board through the stinging pain. He sat in his chair avoided eye contact. He forced a grin when Tammi appeared with a red and white box. Qadira took her seat."Man" Isaac paused. "You messed up the flow of the money and all that's making this community survive and thrive. You're not making it better just worst.""The community is falling apart," Brice said.Isaac used the wall to balance himself. "Inheritance Corp helped bring jobs and feed people in our community. Be real. Look at the truth.""Then stop the killing of our community members.""So what some die. It's better than dying slow of starvation and poverty.""You believe so less of the people in our community demanding them to sell out fast to the deadliest jobs. There is plenty people working to save the members and rebuild the neighborhood. Corruption and crime are delaying the progress.""Here's some bandages." Tammi torn two gauzes out of their packages, offering them to Isaac."Leave him alone," Isaac said, passing gas when he shuffled from the room.

​"Baby, your daddy is going to whip your ass, period." Brice stuck the picture back on his chest."Why you need to know the amount?""Jason is a treacherous thief; he's not cutting his friends equal cuts, not even his own blood." Lillian headed to the back where the file cabinets were. She squeezed her fingers between two of them and retrieve a key while he buttoned his shirt. She pulled open a drawer after using the key to open the lock. In the top drawer were a box full of receipts rubber band together.Brice grabbed the box from Lillian. "I've got to get to class." He left her as she scrambled for the phone. Darting up the stairs and flipping through the receipts, he whistled at the amount Jason kept for himself. When he reached his room, he glared outside his classroom window. The Tattletale members had their stereo turned up blasting rap music as members gather for a lawn party. "Get to class," he yelled through the glass.Why won't they fight to stop the corruption? No the little gang just sit, kill and reap the pennies. He entered the hallway, gripping the proof. The teachers couldn't be blame for this. Before he returned to his classroom, he lingered by Margaret's door then he strolled up to her. "You're doing great work." Her students quiet down watching him leaving the classroom. He heard steps in the hallway. Seeing no one, he continued into his room.

Brice bathed then he dabbed a face cloth to his leg wound. He lied to Yasmine about the wound and his scuffle with Hefty during their love making. He asked her to drop the money off for the clerk at the party store. She harassed him with why questions, he pleaded knowing it all wouldn't change much. She wanted to spit on him yet he pulled her close holding her to prevent it. The last time she spat on him on was the day he backed out of their wedding. He didn't deserve this spit.

The drive into school was congested with people trying to make it to work within a minute. The first bell rang before he made it to the office. The secretary had taken two calls before she took notice of him. He remembered he hid the Jason's Book inside the first crate of old school papers and put the picture of his daughter tape to his chest.She threw a stink face in Brice's direction. He pulled his mail from the box. Last night was like death to him, he didn't have the energy to teach. Unbuttoning his shirt to his navel, he approached Lillian's desk. He had to focus on bringing Jason and Shawn's killer to justice."Can't say hello to somebody?" Brice asked standing over the secretary's desk. He faced the picture to her. Lillian pushed her chair back."Don't try something you'll regret," said Lillian. Brice tossed the photo of her and the naked man on the desk?""You 've took my picture and the book my dad wants." Lillian went for the picture. Brice snatched it before she got it."Naughty girl. You can't have this. You can tell me the exact amount of money Cody brings in from the lunchroom.""I'm telling you nothing," Lillian said plopping in the chair. "Everybody takes a picture with Isaac after they get their hair done."

​Brice rushed to bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry." He kissed Yasmine hard. They needed each other to make themselves strong and suppress their fears. Yasmine clasped her arms around him. Her eyes popped open. He jumped then he kissed her on the forehead to cover his surprise, she didn't blame him for Shawn's death. He poured out his love on her during the night. By morning the sheets were thrown on the floor and the sunlight shone through his window. Staring at her former hourglass shape, his face filled with sadness. She gained weight from worrying over him."You're going to work today?" Yasmine asked, covering herself with the sheet."I got some business to take care." Brice uncovered her breasts and nursed them."You always like my milk jugs," Yasmine jiggled one her nipples from his mouth. She turned her body away, grabbing her blouse."Don't say it like that," Brice said. "I have never saw you as my mother.""Brice, I wasn't thinking that.""I'm sorry.""It's okay I'm getting use to you being intensive.""Do you think Shawn knew about us?" Brice asked cuddling up behind her. "I did a lot of wrong. Hope he forgave me if he did know." Yasmine slid her thong on and wipe tears from her eyes. "Are you worrying about your good guy image getting tarnish?""You gave me the private stripped act that you never gave Shawn," Brice said wrapping the sheet around him toga style. "You desired me.""In my heart, I thought you were the better man.""I am," Brice said with a shaky voice."Goodbye.""I need you." Brice said with his trembling voice realizing she could leave him for good. He sat down, not stopping Yasmine from closing the bedroom door. Next time he would have to commit with a ring or she would leave him for good.

"You don't see me or my fellow officers as important but I stuck my neck out for people like Shawn who wanted to survive this neighborhood," said EbonyBrice took a few steps forward. "I can't ask you for help. You're not willing to fight; you choose to wait." Brice hurried away cutting off two cops who tried grabbing him. He kept going until he arrived at his house. He tip-toe around the back, stooping down to follow the blood that leaded into his backyard. He raised the garage door and left it open. After sighing, he realized the blood must have come from earlier. Then he ran up to his back door. Squeezing through his bushes, he peeked into his front window. Yasmine got up from the sofa. She hadn't helped to pay his bills yet she turned on all the lights in the house. She peered through the curtains."Brice, is that you?" she whispered."I'm coming in," Brice said, bending down to creep inside his front door, Yasmine open. He held her hands a few minutes. "Let's take a run through the house to see if the person who broke in is still here." "Who do you think broke in and made this mess?" Yasmine asked, falling back into the sofa.Yasmine had been here for a while, Brice thought. Hefty couldn't be here unless he hid upstairs, waiting to kill with all that hate built up inside of him. He hurried through the house, searching the living room and kitchen that were trashed. Backing out the kitchen, he sprinted upstairs toward the bedrooms. He smacked his body against the floor of his bedroom, checking underneath the bed. He tore through his closet. Then he jumped at his papers falling from the closet shelf. What was he so scare for? Hefty probably dead anyway."What are you doing up there?" Yasmine yelled at the foot of the stairs. Brice lingered at the top step. "Have you heard, Shawn dead?"

Book ReviewFrostborn (Thrones and Bones Book 1) Lou AndersLots of Action and Funny.A must read especially for youngster who enjoy Science Fiction & Fantasy. The characters Karn and Thianna become involve in adventures to save their own lives and love ones. They fight against some dangerous hunters. The other story line has the two characters discovering who they want to be and where they fit in. Orm is a villain character but I like him, he is polite and agreeable.The description of the scenery is amazing and realistic since I live in a cold state in America I can identify quickly with Thianna enjoying the snow and at the same time understand Karn trying to survive during the severe winter season.The one drawback for me, the story starts off with the character Karn however I believe Thianna seems to be the main character as I read. Thianna should have been introduce in the first chapter.I recommend this book for its action, authentic and unique characters.

​I plan to never hand write another novel. I don't like typing and that has caused a terrible delay. I have should have realized I would have to type it up. Some of the chapters I am tying have 2013 dates. I have to type One Death at a Time last chapters up this week.

I have reach the climax of One Death at a Time with the murder of Shawn Ingram. The storyline about Principal Jason has a pre climax with the discovery of the book. However, Qadira and Dwayne's plotline may need additional work. Wilma and her daughter will be wrapped up with Qadira's plot. First, I need to finish typing up Chapters 11-17 before the weekend is over.Chapters 1-10 I double in the rewrite. The seven chapters to be worked on may also double

Frelisa Walker

The novel One Death At A Time (work in progress) conveys a hopeful message that Detroit can overcome it's problems.​​This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.